Games score economic victories

The drama they produced for football fans was considerable. The economic impact the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship football game and the Valero Alamo Bowl generated for the city was probably more impressive – a record $73.1 million in economic punch delivered by local fans and almost 106,000 out-of-town visitors.

“From a tourism standpoint, these games are a tremendous boost in that they draw a large out-of-city fan base to our city during what is typically a slower time of year,” said San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Scott White. “The games stimulate interest in San Antonio and serve as an ambassador for the pride and passion we have for sports and sports fans.”

Economic impact reports prepared by Strategic Marketing Services and SportsEconomics showed the Dec. 29 Alamo Bowl between produced $42.6 million in direct impact, almost $8 million more than the prior record set in 2004, and the Dec. 1 Big 12 Championship delivered $30.5 million in economic clout. That’s $11.5 million more than the prior high from the 1999 championship played in San Antonio.

When the direct spending by fans at the two games moved through other businesses around San Antonio, the total impact of the games reached $126.5 million.

Derrick Fox, president and CEO of the Alamo Bowl, said the studies show the games yield impressive results that “add to San Antonio’s well-deserved reputation as one of the nation’s top destinations.”